World Concept Cars

There's something about the AMG version of Mercedes-Benz's timeless G-Class that makes tuners go haywire. This time, it's Mercedes-Benz tuning specialist, Vath, that has presented a fully tricked-out G55 AMG.

In stock form, the über G-Class is powered by a 5.5-liter supercharged V8 churning out a completely respectable 500HP and 700Nm (516 lb-ft) of torque. After Vath gets its way with the V8 engine, output is lifted to 680HP and 800Nm (590 lb-ft) allowing the G55 AMG to reach a top speed of 265km/h or 165mph.

The German tuner has also fiddled around with the suspension adding new shock absorbers and lowering the 4x4's ride height by 35mm.

A new sports braking system with 390 mm discs and 22-inch alloy wheels shod in 295/35R22 Yokohama ADV ST tires round off the performance upgrades.

On the outside, Vath modified the G55 AMGH's looks by adding a hood scoop, a new front bumper with larger air-intakes, LED daylight lamps and Xenon units, a roof spoiler and a new pair of exhaust pipes under the rocker panels.

The vehicle's interior has been decked-out with leather, alcantara and carbon fiber applications along with a new sports steering wheel and revised instrument gauges.

Source: Carscoop

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Mercedes-Benz specialist Brabus didn't waste any time in releasing its tuning program for the all-new 2011 E-Class Convertible that was launched in Europe this week. As with all other Mercedes models, Brabus offers a variety of performance and styling kits for Stuttgart's four-seater soft-top.

Starting with the engine upgrades, the most powerful option is for the E500 (E550 in the U.S.A.) Convertible. The stock 388HP 5.5-liter V8 unit is bored out to 6.1-liters, while the conversion also includes new cylinder heads and camshafts, a custom exhaust system and catalyst as well as a recalibrated ECU.

The result is an overall output of 462HP and 615Nm (453-lb-ft) of peak torque, for a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 4.7 seconds and a top speed of 300 km/h (186 mph).

With the German firm's tuning kit, the E250 CGI gets a jump from 204HP to 230HP, while the E350 CGI from 292HP to 310HP.

For the diesel range, Brabus offerings include a power kit for the E250 CDI and E350 CDI that bump output from 204HP to 232HP, and from 231HP to 272HP, respectively.

A four-pipe exhaust system, a sport suspension with height-adjustable coil-over suspensions and variable damper rates and a variety of high-performance braking systems complete the list of performance upgrades.

The tuner's body kit bundles a new front bumper with integrated LED daytime running lights, a rear diffuser and a discreet boot lid spoiler. There's also a variety of alloy wheel options ranging in size from 17- to 19-inches, with 20-inch rims to follow in the near future.

Brabus also offers a range of interior options, including a unique sport steering wheel, stainless-steel scuff plates with an illuminated logo and genuine carbon-fiber decorative trim.

Source: Carscoop

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The first photos of the new Mercedes SLS GT3 race car have leaked out onto the web ahead of the car's official unveiling in a few weeks time.

The new aerokit makes the Mercedes SLS GT3 look pretty butch…

It does indeed, and that huge rear wing does a lot to balance out the long, long nose of the SLS AMG. The big wing is matched to a monster diffuser, chunky front splitter, aero spats around the nose, deep side sills and a vented rear bumper. A new bonnet and some rather garish red trim complete the exterior makeover.

As for inside the SLS GT3, you won't find much there – the plump leather seats, multimedia system and airbag-equipped steering wheel have all been pulled out. In their place is a seriously hefty roll cage, a solitary carbonfibre race seat, a carbon-trimmed centre console, a tiny little steering wheel and a dash-mounted data display.

Other details are still scant – the SLS GT3 won’t be officially revealed for a few more weeks – but the suspension will be adjustable, the new alloys are shod with slicks and the racer is expected to use a tweaked version of the road cars's naturally aspirated 6.2-litre V8, good for over 600bhp. The price tag should be north of £500k too, but then not every race car has gullwing doors for posing in the pitlane.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

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This is the new Mercedes F800 Style, a stunning concept car that the Germany company will unveil at the 2010 Geneva motor show next month. The exterior previews the next CLS (and Mercedes’ future design language) while under the skin there’s all sorts of clever tech, from the next generation of HMI control systems to plug-in and fuel-cell powertrains.

Plug-in hybrids and fuel cells? How does the new Mercedes F800 Style manage that?

Mercedes calls it a ‘multi-drive platform’, and the F800 Style is built to take both hydrogen fuel-cell and plug-in hybrid powertrains, with the former offering a range of 375 miles and the latter allowing for 19 zero-emissions miles. Because Mercedes has managed to shrink the size of its F-Cell (fuel cell) componentry, the F800 can squeeze the fuel cell or plug-in hybrid powertrains into the engine compartment and (says Mercedes) the gaps within the chassis. And there’s still room inside for five.

The plug-in version of the F800 Style has a next-generation, direct-injection 299bhp 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, mated to an 80kW hybrid module that’s integrated into the seven-speed gearbox. There's also a lithium-ion battery with over 10kWh of storage capacity, and the F800 can reach 75mph in electric mode – it manages 155mph with petrol power – and return 68g/km.

The all-electric version features a 100kW motor that develops 214lb ft and is powered by a hydrogen full cell and lithium-ion batteries. The technology is a development of the system found in the B-class F-Cell, though adapted for the F800’s rear-drive layout.

Merc promises we’ll see more of the both alternative powertrains in production cars soon. 'Characteristic features of the F800 Style are its innovations, whose development is already close to the series production stage,’ says Professer Herbert Kohler, Merc's chief environmental officer. ‘This is true not only of the electric drive with fuel cells but also of the Plug-in Hybrid, whose components were taken from our modular system for electric and hybrid vehicles.' Expect an S500 Plug-in Hybrid version of the next-gen S-class.

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

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Found on web-zine Yanko Design was this mad doggy: the insane (-ly awesome) C.S.V. It stands for Cyborg Sensation Vehicle. Yes, really. Designed by Derek Chik Kin Ng, it'll be hitting dealerships in 2040 and targets "young adventurous professionals".

Inspiration came from Mercedes's F400 concept, which is also viewable in the gallery below. It foreshadows a fully integrated driver/vehicle interface, providing "driving...by thinking".

"There's a lot of F400 in there but the designer wanted to give the vehicle an organic flavor, hence the muscle fibers flanking each side, neatly tucking into a hidden skeletal system. The result is a design that takes Mercedes Benz DNA and evolves it into an organic object mimicking its pilot."

But does it teach Kung Fu?

Source: Carmagazine.co.uk

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